When it comes to kid food, it's hard to beat Spaghetti and Meatballs. Canoodling cartoon dogs love it, grandmothers swear by it, and even a children's book fantasizes about it falling from the sky—aptly titled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

It's no surprise kids (and for that matter, adults) find the dish so universally appealing—the classic recipe is simple, comforting, and just messy enough to pique the interest of little ones. Selecting the recipe for our August cover and all-about-kids issue was a no-brainer.

Watch Editor Jill Melton make the cover recipe with her son Sam and his friend Jack then check out the recipe for yourself. It's saucy and fantastically fun.